Kezar Stadium Hosting Soccer

There have been some mad days in the world of grassroots soccer. It’s a place where tackles can take on more crunching relevance, where referees can be chased from the field, and injury to feelings is always ready to strike. Many players in the game’s lower leagues combine day jobs with training and playing. Some dream of moving up, some know the feeling of going down. Others are there for fun and fitness. There is usually drinking in the pub afterwards.

Take the SF Stompers. They ply their football trade in the National Premier Soccer League, the fourth division in US soccer’s pyramid. This is their first year in existence. They are currently playing down in Daly City but are hoping to find a permanent home in San Francisco next season. On Saturday June 16, they take on Sacramento Gold, twice champion of the league, at Kezar Stadium in Golden Pate Park. Tickets are ten bucks at the gate. If you fancy a bit of local soccer, consider heading on out to support the lads. Kick off is 3pm.

Here is a treat for San Francisco soccer fans also coming to Kezar Stadium. US Open Cup action comes to the city on Tuesday June 26, when San Jose Earthquakes take on Seattle Sounders, both top teams in Major League Soccer. The competition is the longest running Cup tournament in US soccer history, dating back to 1914. The Sounders are the reigning US Cup champions. The Quakes are looking for their first major trophy since 2003. The game is likely to be a sell-out, tickets on sale now. The atmosphere will be loud as both teams will be bringing their supporters groups in numbers. So great to see quality professional soccer in San Francisco – we don’t get to see it often – think of it as a taste of what it may be like if we had our own MLS team.

Read Alan Black’s soccer column in the print edition of the Chronicle every Friday